British Declaration Of War - Radio Broadcast - 3 Sept 1939

Extract from the radio broadcast Prime
Minister Chamberlain made on 3 September 1939, declaring war on Germany.

This is what is heard:

"I am speaking to you from the Cabinet Room at 10, Downing Street. This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final note stating that unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany.
You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace has failed.

Yet I cannot believe that there is anything more or anything different that I could have done and that would have been more successful. Up to the very last it would have been quite possible to have arranged a peaceful and honourable settlement between Germany and Poland.

But Hitler would not have it. He had evidently made up his mind to attack Poland whatever happened; and although he now says he put forward reasonable proposals which were rejected by the Poles, that is not a true statement. The proposals were never shown to the Poles nor to us; and though they were announced in the German broadcast on Thursday night, Hitler did not wait to hear comments on them, but ordered his troops to cross the Polish frontier next morning.
His action shows convincingly that there is no chance of expecting that this man will ever give up his practice of using force to gain his will. He can only be stopped by force and we and France are to-day, in fulfilment of our obligations, going to the aid of Poland, who is so bravely resisting this wicked and unprovoked attack upon her people.

We have a clear conscience. We have done all that any country could do to establish peace, but a situation in which no word given by Germany's ruler could be trusted and no people or country could feel themselves safe had become intolerable. And now that we have resolved to finish it, I know that you will all play your part with calmness and courage."

This is the remaining part of the speech, not heard on this vid.

"At such a moment as this the assurances of support that we have received from the Empire are a source of profound encouragement to us.

When I have finished speaking certain detailed announcements will be made on behalf of the Government. Give them your close attention. The Government have made plans under which it will be possible to carry on the work of the nation in the days of stress and strain that may be ahead. But these plans need your help.

You may be taking part in the Fighting Services or as a Volunteer in one of the branches of Civil Defence. If so, you will report for duty in accordance with the instructions you receive. You may be engaged in work essential to the prosecution of war or to the maintenance of life of the people—in factories, in transport, in public utility concerns or in the supply of other necessaries of life. If so, it is of vital importance that you should carry on with your jobs.

Now may God bless you all and may He defend the right. For it is evil things that we shall be fighting against, brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution.

And against them I am certain that the right will prevail."

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[widebody123]

What a sad story. You could almost replace Hitler with George W.Bush, and Poland with Iraq and listen to a similar sad story. Unfortunately, people of Chamberlain's honesty and integrity no longer exist in politics. Instead, we got Blair to join in the worst act of international terrorism of the 21st century. The entire Bush administration and Tony Blair should have their own wing in Gitmo for as long as.....well as long as we want really.

[TheEnglishBoney]

There'll always be an England and England shall be free...

If England means as much to you, as England means to me!

[TheEnglishBoney]

But to the point of the vid, this is an era when the world went mad. America didnt know what side she wanted to back, France had sucomed to the Nazi's. The Italians backed the largest army on her borders. Those who sided with Germany got invaded, even as they were neuteral. But we stood up, and said No not on our watch. Every man women and child in this country paid dealy, but no price can be put on freedom.

[TheEnglishBoney]

i say this crankpitititi go get a job, blacks are not a problem. more likely black hatered is a problem. our forces fought long and hard to protect all. i find your comment disgusting as would Chamberlain and Churchill. your kind are the reason the english are considered racist and not allowed to celerbrate St Georges day. Screw you and the British Nazi Party!

MrFishman hats off to you, i served with blacks in the British army and proud to have done, darn good fellows!

[crankpitititi]

@MrFishman113 Are you saying then that all blacks are criminals?

[MrFishman113]

@crankpitititi AMYTHINGS BETTER WITH OUT DIRTY BLACK FUCKERS INIT THIS COUNTRY HAS SEEN CRIME RATE RISE IN 75% SINCE WE LET ALL THESE BLACK BASTARDS IN LOOK AT THE FACTS THEY HAVE FUCKED THIS COUNTRY

[crankpitititi]

@Messenger375 Totally agree with you it was a brave and important deed to stand in the way of Hitler and his allies.And take up arms. I should have stated my point more clearly, what I meant was Hitler starting the war was pointless and stupid at least to every non- Nazi (symphatiser)

[crankpitititi]

@MrFishman113 (condt)Britain forming an alliance would at one point have involved Hitler wanting to cleanse it of ethnic foreigners. BTW that would have meant that many of our most popular people wouldn´t be known to us.such names as Sir Peter Ustinov, Stephen Fry Amy Winehouse,Peter Sellers,Sacha Baron Cohen,Boris Johnson the Milliband brothers Daniel Radcliffe,Mark Ronson,Sir Ben Kingsley,Salman Rushdie,Dev Patel,Prime Minister Disraeli ,Freddie Mercury etc.Just imagine football without blacks

[crankpitititi]

@MrFishman113 (contd) despite heavy opposition and cassualties on their side they never lost a bomber to the enemy. There were also black fighters in the infantry and the Royal Canadian Airforce.

BTW 2.5 million Indian soldiers fought for Britain and her allies. As well as many African soldiers. And one of the most heroic deeds of the RAF the battle of Britian was fought not only by British but also by Cech,French and Polish fighters flying for the RAF.

[crankpitititi]

@MrFishman113 For your information, there were actually black soldiers involved in WW2 infact there was a whole group of afro-american pilots in the U.S. airforce the 332nd fighter group of the U.S. airforce widely known as the Tuskegee airmen. And unlike their white counterparts they had to fight for their right to defend their country,and were constantly faced with condemnation from white soldiers. But they were as good as any other, infact they guarded bombers on their raids and ...(contd.)